Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Barnstable County Economic Development Council outlines Year 2 CEDS priorities; license-plate grants highlighted
Summary
The Barnstable County Economic Development Council and Cape Cod Commission on June 25 outlined CEDS Year 1 accomplishments and Year 2 priorities, including license-plate grant administration, broadband assessment, workforce initiatives and coordination on wastewater and resilience.
Kristi Sanatore and Erin Perry of the Cape Cod Commission presented an update on the Barnstable County Economic Development Council (BCEDC) and the Cape Cod Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) annual report during the June 25 meeting of the Barnstable County Board of Regional Commissioners.
The commission provides administrative support to the BCEDC. Commissioners were reminded that the BCEDC serves as the Economic Development District governing board and SEDS (CEDS) strategy committee and that it advises the county on economic-development priorities and license-plate grant allocations. Commissioner Mark Forrest serves as the county's representative to the BCEDC.
Sanatore said the BCEDC met regularly during the prior year and provided feedback on zoning, coastal resilience bylaws, workforce programming and the regional bridge economic analysis. The BCEDC reviewed license-plate grant applications and recommended awards. The transcript records that the BCEDC recommended award of $300,000 to eight projects and that the county commissioners awarded those funds earlier in 2025.
The commission also reported completion of a regional broadband needs assessment and work with communities to develop local digital equity plans. Other Year 1 accomplishments cited include support for local climate action planning, wastewater and water-protection funding coordination and completion of a bridge economic analysis used to inform advocacy and replacement priorities.
For Year 2, the BCEDC's priorities include simplifying appropriate housing development (including implementation of the preapproved plans program), supporting growing industries and workforce development, advancing climate resiliency and continuing to support the Water Protection Fund's monitoring and funding programs. The commission also described partner organizations offering workforce training and small-business supports and noted plans to bring partners into EDC meetings for coordination.
Sanatore said the CEDS and Year 1 action report were submitted to the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) and that EDA had previously approved the SEDS in 2024. Commissioners asked process questions about EDA submission and about recent EDA awards; staff said approvals and annual reports had been submitted and that EDA typically responds to annual reports.
Commissioners raised issues about workforce availability, seasonality, broadband, wastewater funding uncertainty and the need for continued advocacy on state and federal funding. No formal board vote was required during the briefing; commissioners asked staff to continue implementation work and outreach to partners.
